By Jun Enriquez
Iligan City, July 19, 2015 - There are at least thousand protesters representing the more than 500 communities that will be
affected when the three coal fired power plants in Northwestern Mindanao
operates. The climate walk kicked-off a six (6)-day walk on July 19, 2015, with a distance of 92 kilometers started at Jurassic
Park, Maranding, Lala in Lanao del Norte and will end at Iligan City.
The climate walkers, coming from the two
major organizers Coal Resistance Movement (CoRE) and Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
(PMCJ) together with more than twenty
(20) civil society organizations and communities demand for the cessation of
the construction of coal fired power plants in Northwestern Mindanao Region.
The past three years, the region has been threatened to host the three coal
fired power plant. Lafarge Cement Corporation is applying to build a 20
megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Kiwalan, Iligan City while the Ozamis
Power Generation Incorporated (OGPI) is also proposing to build a 300 MW coal
plant in Brgy. Pulot, Ozamiz City. The biggest plant among the three is the one
being constructed between Brgy. Tacub and Brgy. Libertad in Kauswagan, Lanao
del Norte which has a generation capacity of about 540 megawatts.
Resistance to coal fired power plant has
been known worldwide due to its harmful impacts to people and environment. Ms.
Lourdes Anabieza of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice in Western
Mindanao says “The irreparable impacts and destruction caused by coal fired
power plants have been well documented and scientifically researched globally. The
United States Energy Information Agency (US EIA) in its studies mentioned that
the risk of getting cancer is 900 times higher from coal ash exposure compared
to cigarette smoking.” Ms. Anabieza further asserted that “the 35 kilometer
death zone from where the coal fired power plant is located is scientifically
proven and this will have consequences to small cities and towns like the town
of Clarin in Misamis Occidental, town of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte and the
cities of Ozamiz, Tangub and Iligan. Even the neighboring and adjacent towns
around these areas like Municipalities of Bonifacio and Tudela in Misamis
Occidental, the towns of Lala, Baroy, Maigo, Bacolod, Linamon all in Lanao del
Norte will not be spared.”
On the other hand, in a radio interview at Real Radio "kalinaw ug Demokrasya", Roldan Gonzales, Executive Director of Gitib, Inc., one of the organizers of the Climate Walk laments that “Despite these consequences and impacts, the PNOY Government and the concern LGUs are one with the profit hungry private energy companies in pushing for the proliferation of CFPPs. They are putting Mindanaoans at risk and what people should do is to oppose this dangerous scheme. Gonzales said “we don’t need these CFPPs. Aside from coal plants will exacerbates the global climate crisis, the Mindanao energy demand can be answered just by the full operation of Agus Pulangi Hydropower Complexes.” Gonzales said, it has to be noted that based from the National Power Corporation data, the Agus Pulangi Hydro Power Complexes have been supplying more than 50% of the Mindanao energy needs. However, with the looming privatization plan, the complexes have been deteriorating.
The six – day climate walk have
whistled the LGU officials to oppose the CFPPs are invited to support and join the
event. A major program in Iligan City will culminate the climate walk. with reports by Jong Cadion of Pagadian City
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